Laser device and method for operating same

Abstract

A method for operating a laser device which has a laser-active solid and a preferably passive Q-switch in which the laser device is acted upon by pumped light for generating a laser pulse. The radiation spontaneously emitted by the laser device is analyzed for drawing a conclusion about an operating state of the laser device, in particular about a laser pulse being generated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ignition device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 at least one laser device including a laser-active solid and a Q-switch, the at least one laser device adapted to be acted upon by pumped light for generating a laser pulse, the at least one laser device further including a detector to detect a radiation spontaneously emitted by the laser device. 
 
     
     
       2. A laser device, comprising a laser-active solid and a Q-switch, the laser device adapted to be acted upon by pumped light for generating a laser pulse, the laser device including a detector to detect a radiation spontaneously emitted by the laser device. 
     
     
       3. The laser device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the detector is situated radially outside with respect to the laser device. 
     
     
       4. The laser device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the detector is a photodiode and is situated remotely from the laser device, and wherein the laser device further comprises an optical fiber device which is adapted to transmit at least part of the radiation spontaneously emitted by the laser device to the photodiode. 
     
     
       5. The laser device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein an injection section of the optical fiber device is situated radially outside on the laser device. 
     
     
       6. The laser device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the optical fiber device has a plurality of optical fibers of which at least one first optical fiber is provided to supply the laser device with pumped light, and of which at least one second optical fiber is provided for transmitting at least part of the spontaneously emitted radiation from the laser device to the photodiode. 
     
     
       7. The laser device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein an end section of the first optical fiber is situated for supplying the laser device with pumped light, so that the pumped light is injectable into the laser device at least longitudinally. 
     
     
       8. A method for operating a laser device which has a laser-active solid and a Q-switch in which the laser device is acted upon by pumped light for generating a laser pulse, the method comprising:
 analyzing radiation spontaneously emitted by the laser device for drawing a conclusion about an operating state of the laser device. 
 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the analyzing is for drawing a conclusion about a laser pulse being generated. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 exciting the laser device at least longitudinally using pumped light, and analyzing transversely beamed spontaneously emitted radiation. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a variation over time of an intensity of the spontaneously emitted radiation is detected and analyzed. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the analyzing of the spontaneously emitted radiation is performed as a function of a pumping start point in time at which the laser device starts being acted upon by pumped light. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the analyzing of the spontaneously emitted radiation includes detecting a maximum of an intensity of the spontaneously emitted radiation. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein at least part of the spontaneously emitted radiation is detected using a detector situated directly in an area of the laser device. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the detector is a photodiode. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein at least part of the spontaneously emitted radiation is transmitted from the laser device situated remotely from the laser device via an optical fiber device. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein pumped light is supplied to the laser device via at least one first optical fiber of an optical fiber device having a plurality of optical fibers, and at least part of the spontaneously emitted radiation is transmitted from the laser device to a photodiode situated remotely from the laser device via at least one second optical fiber of the same optical fiber device. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein at least part of the spontaneously emitted radiation is radially extracted from the laser device and injected into a section of the optical fiber device situated radially outside of the laser device.